Don Bourne will remain as Pope County's district judge after a hand recount Monday confirmed last week's machine-counted vote totals.

The hand recount had Bourne defeating challenger Keith Coker 3,711-3,286, slightly different from the totals registered six days earlier. Bourne ultimately gained 13 votes and Coker six after the hand recount.

Coker had requested the recount, questioning technical errors in computerized vote tabulating machines that occurred on election night. He said he was satisfied with the recount.

"The people have spoken, and now we've heard what they had to say," said Coker, an attorney who practices in Russellville. "The majority who voted said they didn't want change, but almost the same number said change is needed. I hope those in office will take that as a mandate for improvement.

"I'm confident with these numbers, and I congratulate Judge Bourne."

Of the 6,997 Pope County residents who voted in the race, 53.8 percent selected Bourne, who was elected to his second four-year term as district judge. There were 126 people who had a ballot but did not cast a vote in the district judge race.

Bourne carried 34 of the county's 57 precincts, Coker won 19, and they tied in the remaining four.

Bourne said he plans to use his second term to implement more educational programs in schools to inform kids of the dangers of making bad choices, along with continuing his judicial duties. During his first term, Bourne converted the position from a part to full-time job, hearing a number of cases at the Pope County Detention Center to cut down on prisoner transport costs.

"I'm certainly happy with the way [the recount] turned out," Bourne said. "I could not perceive any way it could turn out differently. The recount essentially affirmed the vote.

"I'm glad the voters gave me another four years. I appreciate that, and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Pope County."

It was the third recount in Pope County during the past two years. In 2002, a close county justice of the peace race was recounted, and on Saturday, poll workers recounted votes from a circuit judge race.

Confusion surrounding computerized vote tabulations sparked the two recounts this year. Pope County election officials ordered a recount of 14 county precincts around 11:30 p.m. on election night after they noticed discrepancies in ballot numbers. Vote totals changed significantly after that recount, causing some to question the entire vote counting process.

Final machine numbers were ultimately affirmed by the two hand counts, however.